SHELBYVILLE, Ill. — For the second time in as many months, the Illini Division of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine will compete on Lake Shelbyville on June 21. While the last visit was a bit of a grind, this one should see a better offshore bite – if the weather cooperates.
This year, BFL anglers benefit from an expanded slate of Regionals, which minimizes travel costs and provides more opportunities to qualify for the $120,000 BFL All-American while fishing familiar, closer-to-home waters. Click here to find out more.
What to expect
Olney, Illinois, native Jeffrey Lee has notched five Top 10s on Shelbyville, including a win last year. With the bass spawn well in the rearview, he thinks the offshore bite should be the way to win this event.
“Running the bank up there is not going to do you much good up there this time of year,” Lee said.
Lee said anglers fishing offshore should have an array of cover to target. Brushpiles and other manmade fish habitat almost always hold fish. Same goes for submerged stumps. There are also some river-channel ledges, points and other contour changes where bass tend to congregate.
While “offshore” might make most anglers think “forward-facing sonar” in 2025, Lee doesn’t see this turning into a minnow derby.
“Most of the guys are not going to be targeting individual fish, floaters, and throwing minnows to them,” he said. “(Forward-facing sonar) just makes you more efficient as far as being able to line up, make every cast. You see the stump’s at 40 feet, you make a cast 3 or 4 feet behind it, then two hops and you’re there. I don’t think it’s going to be a minnow tournament at all.”
In Lee’s estimation, the biggest variable will be the weather leading up to the tournament. It’s been a volatile spring in Illinois, with regular storms and cold fronts keeping the bass from following their normal seasonal progression and congregating in big schools. If the weather stays stable (which looks promising as of this writing), he thinks the bite should improve.
“It’s just one of those things – depending on the weather, depending on a lot of things – it could go either way,” Lee said. “I sense it could take a pretty good bag if the weather stays stable. If we have another massive cold front, like we’ve had weekly almost here, it could hurt it.”
Baits to bring
Lee said Shelbyville is known as a fishery where dragging excels. So, while a few anglers might be able to get bit cranking or winding swimbaits, he thinks bottom-based presentations like jigs, Carolina rigs, big ribbontail worms and shaky heads will be the most popular offerings.
What will it take?
Shelbyville can be a bit volatile, Lee said. Usually, the winning weight falls around the 14- to 15-pound range; but if the bite is tough, it could be as low as 12, and if it’s on, it might be 17 or 18. If the current forecast holds, he thinks someone will hit that upper range at this event.
Sign up to Fish 4 Free!
Every Phoenix Bass Fishing League angler fishing the fourth event in each division this season will receive an Abu Garcia gift pack valued at $230 for boaters and $180 for co-anglers – a value that exceeds the entry fee. It’s like Fishing 4 FREE! Plus, participants will receive a code for 25% off an order at AbuGarcia.com. Click here to sign up for the Abu Garcia Fishing 4 Free promotion, or call 270-252-1000 to take advantage of this offer. Anglers will receive their gift pack at the event.